LS3-A ailerons unconnected; early release at 50-80 m, tree strike

On 10 June 2003 the pilot of an LS3-A died a few hours after a crash near Baden-Oos; the aircraft was destroyed. He had rigged the glider himself with helpers and launched on aerotow from RWY 22 at 12:57 LT. The initial climb was normal but at about 50-80 m he self-released over the radio without giving reasons. In the following right turn the bank steepened progressively and the right wing struck a tree at 5-7 m AGL about 200 m beyond RWY 04, in a tree nursery. Both L'Hotellier aileron couplings were found unconnected and undeformed — the ailerons had not been linked before flight.

1. Pilot rigs glider; aerotow RWY 22 12:57: The pilot rigs his own LS3-A on the morning of the flight with the help of others and launches on aerotow from RWY 22 of Baden-Oos at 12:57 LT. The initial climb behind the tug is normal.
2. Both L'Hotellier ailerons unconnected: The L'Hotellier ball-and-socket couplings on both ailerons are required to be connected and locked with safety clips before flight. After the accident both couplings are found unconnected, unsecured and undeformed — there are no signs of forced opening at impact. The ailerons were therefore never linked to the cockpit controls before the flight; the pre-flight full-and-free control check failed to detect this.
3. Early self-release at 50-80 m: At about 50 to 80 m above the ground near the end of the airfield the pilot releases the tow rope on his own and reports 'Ausgeklinkt' on the radio without giving any reason. Tow pilot and ground control confirm the call.
4. Right turn, bank steepening: After release the glider enters a right-hand turn. Without aileron authority the pilot can only attempt to control bank with the rudder; the flight path progressively steepens.
5. Right wing hits tree at 5-7 m AGL: About 200 m beyond the threshold of RWY 04, in a tree nursery in the departure area, the right wing strikes a tree at about 5 to 7 m above the ground. The right outer wing breaks open and parts of the control linkage are torn out.
6. Rotation, nose-first impact: The aircraft rotates after the tree strike and impacts the ground nose / side first. The fuselage breaks in two places and the cockpit shell bursts open. The pilot suffers serious head and spine injuries, is flown to a city hospital and dies of his injuries a few hours later. A grass field suitable for an outlanding lay 60-80 m to the right of the impact site.